“[The Bolshoi Ballet Academy’s] alumni include some of the most illustrious dancers in the history of ballet.” – David M. Herszenhorn, The New York Times

The Bolshoi Ballet Academy (BBA), one of the oldest and most established schools for classical ballet training, has produced numerous world-class dancers, teachers, and choreographers. With its 244-year history, the Academy is steeped in a rich cultural tradition with a strong curriculum and a pedagogy that focuses on strength, musicality, clarity, and personal expression. Most of the Principal Dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet graduated from the Academy and are among the leading dancers in the world today. Other current alumni include Principal Dancers, Artistic Directors, top ballet educators and scholars in the world. From some of the most accomplished dancers of the 20th century, including Maya Plisetskaya, Vladimir Vasiliev, Ekaterina Maximova, to the stars of the current generation, including Vladimir Malakhov, Natalia Osipova, Alexei Ratmansky, Polina Semionova, Nikolay Tsiskaridze, and Maria Kochetkova, the Academy and its graduates continue to earn the highest honors and acclaims in the international dance world.

The Summer Intensive Programs incorporate the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy methods with a pedagogy supervised by the Dean of the Academy, Marina Leonova. Teachers come exclusively from Moscow’s Academy to instruct students in Classical Ballet, Repertoire, Pointe, Variations, Character Dance, Historical Dance, Male Technique and Partnering*.

*Photo credits: Stella De Monaco, Gene Schiavone

All mentioned programs are a partnership between New York based Russian American Foundation (“RAF”) and Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet Academy (“Academy”). The Programs are operated in the United States by RAF, based on a ballet curriculum designed by the Academy and taught exclusively by its ballet teachers. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the RAF has no affiliation or responsibility for other programs operated or sponsored by the Academy in Russia or other parts of the world. Neither RAF nor the Academy are formally affiliated with Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet Company.

BBASI Programs Official Sponsors and Supporters:

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.

In support of RAF’s commitment to peer-to-peer dialogue and international exchange, please click below to learn more about U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs programs.

*Age and level appropriate curriculum and schedule are displayed for each program on respective program page.